Secrets of the Nigerian Akara Burger
Eunice loves to cook food from her native Nigerian cuisine and share her recipes with others.
What Is a Nigerian Akara Burger?
The Nigerian akara burger is a deceptively simple yet utterly delicious local snack. The "burger" is actually a bean fritter made from black-eyed peas. This snack enjoys broad popularity across all regions and communities of Nigeria, and even foreigners who visit our country and sample this snack enjoy it, too.
Although the akara burger consists of only two components—the bread and the bean fritter—it is quite easy to get it wrong. The secret lies in the soft, chewy bread and the soft, fluffy bean fritters. If the bread is dry and flaky, it won't hold the akara properly. Freshly baked bread works best.
Cook Time
Prep time | Cook time | Ready in | Yields |
---|---|---|---|
10 min | 10 min | 20 min | 3 akara burgers |
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Ingredients
- 1/2 cup black-eyed peas, peeled
- 3 scotch bonnets
- 1 onion
- Pinch salt
- 1/2 bottle vegetable oil
- 1/4 cup water
- 3 soft bread buns
Step 1: Make the Akara
- Wash and peel the black-eyed peas.
- Blend the peeled black-eyed peas with peppers and onion. Add 1/4 cup of water while blending. It should form a light paste.
- Heat up 1/2 bottle of vegetable oil in a small, deep pan. A deep-fryer is a good alternative.
- Stir the bean paste with a small pestle or a big spoon. Add a pinch of salt.
- Use an ice cream scoop or a deep spoon to scoop paste into the hot oil.
- Turn the fritters briskly to allow for even frying.
- Scoop out the fritters when they turn brown.
Step 2: Assemble the Burger
- Place the akara (bean fritters) in the middle of the bread buns.
- Enjoy with tea, coffee or any drink of your choice.